Minggu, 31 Juli 2011
Should It Stay or Should It Go?
Lambsquarters for supper
Last week I went up to check the corn while my sister and her husband were away, and noticed that the whole field between the rows of corn was covered with healthy, luxurious lambsquarters. 
This is one of my favorite wild greens. Some people have a mild objection to the powdery texture on the underside of the leaves, but there is a flavor that reminds me a bit of oyster stew that gets me right past that little problem. I like them mildly steamed with a little butter and salt as a side dish - or (as you will hear about just about any wild green) of course wherever you'd use spinach.
It is getting ready to go to seed.
Chenopodium album is what we're talking about here. The grain that everyone has been eating lately - Quinoa - is Chenopodium quinoa, so they are both in the same family (Cheno podium = Goose foot). I'm really hoping to remember to ask that a row or two not get mowed because it would be interesting to gather some of the seeds and see if they are much like quinoa. Who knows? It might be even tastier (and way cheaper).
The corn didn't fare very well this year. The stalks were stunted, barely up to my shoulders, and the ears were small. There might have been a moment there when the kernels were perfectly tender and ripe, but we sure missed it and went right to tough. Even the deer and the groundhogs ignore it.
Even so, I went up to the field today to gather a few cups of lambsquarters and a couple ears of the corn to try out in an "impossible pie." I know, I know... lazy. Who cares? I needed to clear some stuff out of the fridge and seriously love how easy these things are. I'm sure there are simple directions for making an equivalent baking mixture using whole grains - and I should look it up.
I dragged out the last of the older dozen eggs, some shredded cheese that I couldn't believe was still fresh, sliced ham with tomorrow as the "sell by" date, and set to work. I cut the corn off the ears and de-stemmed the lambsquarters. Then I added:
3/4 c Bisquick
3 eggs
1 1/2 c milk
1 c shredded cheddar
the ham, chopped
After mixing it all together in the giant mixing bowl, a 10" pie pan was buttered and filled with the mixture. It sat for a few minutes until the oven reached 375 degrees.
At that point, I noticed leaf tips sticking out and didn't want them to get crisped, so covered them with about 1/4 c (additional) cheese.
Bake 35 minutes, cool for 10, and eat.
This would be great with chopped onion, broccoli, and tomatoes. It is such a versatile recipe.
This is one of my favorite wild greens. Some people have a mild objection to the powdery texture on the underside of the leaves, but there is a flavor that reminds me a bit of oyster stew that gets me right past that little problem. I like them mildly steamed with a little butter and salt as a side dish - or (as you will hear about just about any wild green) of course wherever you'd use spinach.It is getting ready to go to seed.
Chenopodium album is what we're talking about here. The grain that everyone has been eating lately - Quinoa - is Chenopodium quinoa, so they are both in the same family (Cheno podium = Goose foot). I'm really hoping to remember to ask that a row or two not get mowed because it would be interesting to gather some of the seeds and see if they are much like quinoa. Who knows? It might be even tastier (and way cheaper).The corn didn't fare very well this year. The stalks were stunted, barely up to my shoulders, and the ears were small. There might have been a moment there when the kernels were perfectly tender and ripe, but we sure missed it and went right to tough. Even the deer and the groundhogs ignore it.
Even so, I went up to the field today to gather a few cups of lambsquarters and a couple ears of the corn to try out in an "impossible pie." I know, I know... lazy. Who cares? I needed to clear some stuff out of the fridge and seriously love how easy these things are. I'm sure there are simple directions for making an equivalent baking mixture using whole grains - and I should look it up.
I dragged out the last of the older dozen eggs, some shredded cheese that I couldn't believe was still fresh, sliced ham with tomorrow as the "sell by" date, and set to work. I cut the corn off the ears and de-stemmed the lambsquarters. Then I added:
3/4 c Bisquick
3 eggs
1 1/2 c milk
1 c shredded cheddar
the ham, chopped
After mixing it all together in the giant mixing bowl, a 10" pie pan was buttered and filled with the mixture. It sat for a few minutes until the oven reached 375 degrees.
At that point, I noticed leaf tips sticking out and didn't want them to get crisped, so covered them with about 1/4 c (additional) cheese.
Bake 35 minutes, cool for 10, and eat.
This would be great with chopped onion, broccoli, and tomatoes. It is such a versatile recipe.
Sabtu, 30 Juli 2011
V.G.T.. Maryanne in Manheim
The Essential Herbal's Virtual Garden Tour is on the next-to-last stop. These are Maryanne Schwartz' gardens. Maryanne is the lay-out director for the magazine, she makes amazing lampworked glass beads and vessels, and has been the proprietor of a wholesale soap business for nearly 20 years. She is also my sister.
As you come up the driveway, a small raised bed holds a patch of Old Man Artemesia surrounded by snap dragons. Maryanne found this (now fogged) glass ball that seemed to fit in with the gray colors.
One of the big structures to the left - toward the shop is a big pergola that you may recognize from a few years ago when we featured it in the magazine covered with gourds. In the front, we use it for a support for our tomato plants.
And in the back half, it is now a grape arbor:
Just next to the chicken house is a bed of asparagus. It supplied us with fresh spears for over a month this spring. Now it adds some extra cover for the small birds.
There are a number of small raised beds along side the asparagus, this one hosts Bob's cabbage. He made an experimental batch of sauerkraut last yeah with a few heads of cabbage and it was so successful he decided to grow a batch more this year!
On the way across the yard toward the house, on the left is a weeping cherry which is beautiful for that short blooming time in the spring, but underneath it is planted a bunch of stargazer lilies that are just one of the most beautiful, extravagant sights of the year. These are just a few of them.
One of the latest additions to our yard is my new herb garden. We always had them planted here and there throughout the yard and after he cut down an old ornamental crab apple tree, Bob suggested we replace it with a fenced in area with raised beds close to the kitchen door.... Agreeing was easy to that one! It's just getting started here. The fuller herbs are in the bed that is farther away. You can see the comfrey in between the beds - that was there before. There are patio tomatoes growing on the fence to the right but I don't think you can see them.
Just outside the fence is a little place where we always had some miniature roses and iris. I tucked in 3 different kinds of salvias - pineapple, back and blue and bog sage. We'll see how they turn out. That rusty old lantern is something we used to sell at our shop way back when and I still love the way it looks!
On the way into the patio, there is a plant of echinaea - the petals always look droopy, so I assume that is the variety. It is planted lext to a post that supports autumn clematis which will be blooming in its froth of white come late summer.
The back of the house is brick paved and my husband and son built the little pavilion years ago. The wysteria has taken it over, but the shade is so welcome in the summer! It is a lovely spot.
Finally, I took a picture of this, just because I liked the look of it, but a day or so ago, I was showing it to my husband when we noticed a little chipmunk climbing all around it and then disappearing into the little cave it makes with a wooden step to the right. It's his house! We LOVE chipmunks around here, so we were enchanted.
There's much more, but the day I was taking pictures, these are the things that caught my eye.
Hurricane Irene is barreling up the coast today, so I will attempt to get my pictures before noon. Otherwise, I'll just have a really good excuse for the messy gardens. Hmmmm.... what to do?
After that, we'll be working in earnest towards our final issue in our first decade of publication!
As you come up the driveway, a small raised bed holds a patch of Old Man Artemesia surrounded by snap dragons. Maryanne found this (now fogged) glass ball that seemed to fit in with the gray colors.
One of the big structures to the left - toward the shop is a big pergola that you may recognize from a few years ago when we featured it in the magazine covered with gourds. In the front, we use it for a support for our tomato plants. 
And in the back half, it is now a grape arbor: 
Just next to the chicken house is a bed of asparagus. It supplied us with fresh spears for over a month this spring. Now it adds some extra cover for the small birds. 
There are a number of small raised beds along side the asparagus, this one hosts Bob's cabbage. He made an experimental batch of sauerkraut last yeah with a few heads of cabbage and it was so successful he decided to grow a batch more this year! 
On the way across the yard toward the house, on the left is a weeping cherry which is beautiful for that short blooming time in the spring, but underneath it is planted a bunch of stargazer lilies that are just one of the most beautiful, extravagant sights of the year. These are just a few of them. 
One of the latest additions to our yard is my new herb garden. We always had them planted here and there throughout the yard and after he cut down an old ornamental crab apple tree, Bob suggested we replace it with a fenced in area with raised beds close to the kitchen door.... Agreeing was easy to that one! It's just getting started here. The fuller herbs are in the bed that is farther away. You can see the comfrey in between the beds - that was there before. There are patio tomatoes growing on the fence to the right but I don't think you can see them. 
Just outside the fence is a little place where we always had some miniature roses and iris. I tucked in 3 different kinds of salvias - pineapple, back and blue and bog sage. We'll see how they turn out. That rusty old lantern is something we used to sell at our shop way back when and I still love the way it looks! 
On the way into the patio, there is a plant of echinaea - the petals always look droopy, so I assume that is the variety. It is planted lext to a post that supports autumn clematis which will be blooming in its froth of white come late summer. 
The back of the house is brick paved and my husband and son built the little pavilion years ago. The wysteria has taken it over, but the shade is so welcome in the summer! It is a lovely spot. 
Finally, I took a picture of this, just because I liked the look of it, but a day or so ago, I was showing it to my husband when we noticed a little chipmunk climbing all around it and then disappearing into the little cave it makes with a wooden step to the right. It's his house! We LOVE chipmunks around here, so we were enchanted. 
There's much more, but the day I was taking pictures, these are the things that caught my eye. Hurricane Irene is barreling up the coast today, so I will attempt to get my pictures before noon. Otherwise, I'll just have a really good excuse for the messy gardens. Hmmmm.... what to do?
After that, we'll be working in earnest towards our final issue in our first decade of publication!
V.G.T. - North to Betsy's Place in MI
V.G.T. = Virtual Garden Tour
I thought we'd cool off a little bit and head north. This summer there just aren't too many places in the US that aren't baking, but we've found a couple of them, and we'll visit them over the next few posts!
I can't really tell you how long ago I came to know Betsy Stevens. She's one of those people who it feels like has just always been there. One of the biggest benefits of being the publisher of The Essential Herbal magazine is getting to know some really wonderful people who wouldn't have come my way otherwise. I am grateful for that on a daily basis.
Betsy and her family live on a 1/3 acre lot in a mid-20th century sub-division in mid-Michigan. From the following pictures, you'll think she lives in the middle of the wilderness.
Let's see what we have here. First, a lovely stand of Culvers root.
There's boneset growing...
Is there anything prettier than echinacea and daisies growing together? 
So carefree and lush.
The elderberries are forming and there is some coloration beginning.
It won't be long before time for elderberry pie, jelly, tincture, syrup, drying and freezing.
Here is Betsy's interpretation of permaculture - herbs instead of ornamentals.
Each of us can do a bit of permaculture wherever we are, and every bit helps. We can't all be living in intentional communities off the grid, so we make our peace in our own gardens.
Beetles love the Queen of the Prairie.
The marshmallow is very happy growing by the compost.
Mint for many things - especially Mojitos!
The motherwort is in bloom...
This is the stage we use for tincturing or to dry. We want those flowers!
Here is the path to the garden shed.
... and the side view of the path to the garden shed.
Pennyroyal in bloom.
In the days of old, people planted pennyroyal in their dooryards to discourage fleas from getting into the house.
St John's wort volunteered under Betsy's elderberry bush.
In some parts of the country SJW is considered invasive. My own personal experience is that it migrates around my property, and one year will be almost explosive followed by a year with very few blooms.
Wow! Isn't it amazing that 1/3 of an acre feels so much like we just took a walk through a country garden?
Stay tuned, we'll be going to Washington state and Maine in the next week or so, and I'm hoping that we get a few more from other subscribers. All I need is a few pictures and off we go!
I thought we'd cool off a little bit and head north. This summer there just aren't too many places in the US that aren't baking, but we've found a couple of them, and we'll visit them over the next few posts!
I can't really tell you how long ago I came to know Betsy Stevens. She's one of those people who it feels like has just always been there. One of the biggest benefits of being the publisher of The Essential Herbal magazine is getting to know some really wonderful people who wouldn't have come my way otherwise. I am grateful for that on a daily basis.
Betsy and her family live on a 1/3 acre lot in a mid-20th century sub-division in mid-Michigan. From the following pictures, you'll think she lives in the middle of the wilderness.
Let's see what we have here. First, a lovely stand of Culvers root.
There's boneset growing...
Is there anything prettier than echinacea and daisies growing together? 
So carefree and lush.The elderberries are forming and there is some coloration beginning.
It won't be long before time for elderberry pie, jelly, tincture, syrup, drying and freezing.Here is Betsy's interpretation of permaculture - herbs instead of ornamentals.
Each of us can do a bit of permaculture wherever we are, and every bit helps. We can't all be living in intentional communities off the grid, so we make our peace in our own gardens.Beetles love the Queen of the Prairie.
The marshmallow is very happy growing by the compost.
Mint for many things - especially Mojitos!
The motherwort is in bloom...
This is the stage we use for tincturing or to dry. We want those flowers!Here is the path to the garden shed.
... and the side view of the path to the garden shed.
Pennyroyal in bloom.
In the days of old, people planted pennyroyal in their dooryards to discourage fleas from getting into the house.St John's wort volunteered under Betsy's elderberry bush.
In some parts of the country SJW is considered invasive. My own personal experience is that it migrates around my property, and one year will be almost explosive followed by a year with very few blooms.Wow! Isn't it amazing that 1/3 of an acre feels so much like we just took a walk through a country garden?
Stay tuned, we'll be going to Washington state and Maine in the next week or so, and I'm hoping that we get a few more from other subscribers. All I need is a few pictures and off we go!
Jumat, 29 Juli 2011
Had To Have Some New Herbal Babies!
I also had some die back in my herb garden. Although typical, The Herbal Husband and I are having a disagreement about the life expectancy of my rosemary santolina. Of course, it bloomed while we were away and now it is three-quarters brown and dead. I'll show you some photos in the next days. I may ask your opinion about the matter. There are some other plants that did not make it as well. Weeds always do well when you are away! We got three inches of rain last night and I just heard some more thunder so we may get some more today! It is great to pull weeds out after a rain. I have a lot to pull! Well, I will show you where the new herbal babies are going in coming posts. Busy, busy, herbally speaking! Hope you are having a great day. Talk to you later.
Rabu, 27 Juli 2011
We Hit The Ground Touring!
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| The Brussels Train Station |
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| Lunch on the Thalys Train |
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| In Den Rustwat Restaurant in the Arboretum Trompenburg |
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| Mixed Border of Perennials |
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| More Perennial Borders |
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| A Bridge to a New Part of the Arboretum |
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| Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' |
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| Yuccas About to Bloom |
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| Thought the Heron Was a Statue! |
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| Another Beautiful Vista |
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| This One is a Statue! |
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| More Wildlife |
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| A Great Recycling of Bottles! |
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| Even Sheep Grazing! |
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| Wish My Astilbes Looked This Good! |
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| What You Expect at the Arboretum, Mature Trees! |
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| The Rhododendrons Still in Bloom! |
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